“My first date last year was a phone call that went on for three hours and we did not meet for a good four to five months. On those lonely cozy nights, you have someone to talk to,” says Pratishta Puthran, a 26-year-old who has been exploring ‘hybrid dating’ since 2021. “I personally feel more comfortable with the idea of knowing a person`s thoughts, likes and dislikes before I take out my valuable time to meet a stranger and either be disappointed or pleased,” the senior sales professional from Mumbai adds.

Just as Zoom calls, Google Meets, FaceTimes and  in-app video interaction revolutionised our lives during the pandemic, they have also boosted the concept of ‘hybrid dating’, which has gradually changed people’s approach to finding a partner and planning first dates. This style of courtship means young adults are curating dates involving a combination of online and in-person meets that suit the mid-pandemic and post-pandemic lifestyle.